How far would you go to protect your family and what crime would be the breaking point to which you would involve the police?

Hmm interesting question...

I think if one of the members of my family commited rape, murder or anything along those lines I would feel morally inclined to turn them to the police.

I can't imagine any of my family doing such a thing though!

Sounds like you are asking for advice :hihi:

Not liking a grass anyway, I could not imagine rumbling any of my family :o

My kids have grown up believing that I will. They were told that I would not tolerate criminals in my house, and I would respond the same with them as I would anyone else's kids. I'd like to believe that this has some bearing on the fact that none of them have - to my knowledge - done anything which may involve police intervention.

Whether I would call the police or not if the brown stuff hit the fan? I don't know, but as part of the good parenting policy in our house I think I would be doing them a favour if they got the shock they would deserve.

I feel though that in today's liberal society my punishment would be far harder than any meted out by the justice system.

Some time ago I posted about my eldest son breaking a neighbour's number plate with his football. She wasn't aware of it, but I was so I sent him to apologise and he paid £5.50 - all his savings - to replace it. If the police had been involved, nothing would have been done!

Would I?

All my family are currently 'on holiday' in Norfolk Prison, thats the last time they steal my biscuits.

Only if they were a nonse, and it was beyond doubt,

and that would be after they had recieved a kicking.

Almost all other crimes are just laws. more or less

My mum called the police for my brother once, she found he'd been shoplifting, and he thought he'd got away with it. She hoped it would teach him a lesson and scare him from trying anything again!!
(unfortunately it didn't, but at least she tried) :(

The Unabomber, Ted Kaczynski was turned in to the FBI by his brother.

I think it would depend on which members of my family, and what crimes they had commited. One of my children...NEVER! Sorry, that's me. I'd be the mom arrested for helping her child sneak across the border into Mexico.

My snobby, spoiled, cousin Steve...quite possibly, lol.

My own mother made me return a half eaten candy bar to the local grocery store and apologize for stealing it. I was eight, and I never stole anything ever again!

:) Sierra

I don't think I could turn any of my family into the police :?

I would try and get them to turn themselves in though!

I know that sounds bad but I just don't think I could :(

I'm off to the sherrif's office this morning. May have to sign committal papers as well.

Depends which family member and what crime they commited.

Erm, depends on the nature of the crime... murder, rape, paedophilia and mugging then certainly without any hesitation. Anything else then I would have to say, I'd disown them rather than turn them in. Don't need people like that in my life even if they are my own family.

Saying that, a couple of my cousins stole from my nan a few years back and even though it was common knowledge in the family they didn't get the police involved, but I never forgive them and don't think I ever will. Not seen them since and have no intention of doing so again.

As everyone else has said, it depends what they'd done, but what a ****ty position to be in:(

Wow I'd love to have the chance to turn a family member in to the Police although I think the men in white coats is more likely!:D:D:D

I'm off to the sherrif's office this morning. May have to sign committal papers as well.

What did he/she do? :o

I have always said that I would phone the police if any of my family had committed a serious crime but I suppose nobody knows what they would do for definite until put in this situation.

Would depend on what crime they had committed.
Murder, rape or anything to do with children, I would without even thinking about it.
Anything else would probably depend on the circumstances and the person.
But then again, I suppose you don`t know unless your put in that position!

Depends what the crime was, if it was serious I'd rather take the rap than let my son or my wife.

sparklesista - love the avatar.

without doubt i loath the police. no other organisation is so corrupt, bent and dishonourable.

dont get me wrong ive never been in trouble with the police. my record is clean so this is not the rant of a convicted man.

i would not trust a police officer.

i actually work with them, so i know the score. ive also know people who have fallen foul to their dodgy dealings, their violence and set ups.

to conclude i do not really like them!!

I think this is one of those topics where it easy for the self righteous moralistic people to say what they would do but if faced with the situation in real life it might be a lot different. Depending on the crime it would be best to persuade the relative to give themselves up, if they won't, it would need reconsidering.

I've done it and not felt a twinge of guilt then or now. The law is there to be adhered to.

without doubt i loath the police. no other organisation is so corrupt, bent and dishonourable.

dont get me wrong ive never been in trouble with the police. my record is clean so this is not the rant of a convicted man.

i would not trust a police officer.

i actually work with them, so i know the score. ive also know people who have fallen foul to their dodgy dealings, their violence and set ups.

to conclude i do not really like them!!

I love your objectivity :rolleyes: - and I just hope you never need their help. Its like any job in the public sector, some will be in if for what they can get, some will do the job to the best of their ability, and some will do it because they believe in it. Three members of my family are police officers and I'm sure you don't know them - so how can you be so insulting?

Back to the OP, I honestly don't know what I'd do as the situation hasn't arisen. I suppose it would depend on the crime.

I love your objectivity :rolleyes: - and I just hope you never need their help. Its like any job in the public sector, some will be in if for what they can get, some will do the job to the best of their ability, and some will do it because they believe in it. Three members of my family are police officers and I'm sure you don't know them - so how can you be so insulting?

Back to the OP, I honestly don't know what I'd do as the situation hasn't arisen. I suppose it would depend on the crime.


of course there are some good ones. but there are also some bad ones as well.

I've done it and not felt a twinge of guilt then or now. The law is there to be adhered to.Is it that clear to you? Would you turn a relative in for a "petty" law like speeding? That's just an example, I don't want to start one of the dreaded speeding debates please. :rolleyes:

not read through but i think it would depend on how much of a danger they were to others

Is it that clear to you? Would you turn a relative in for a "petty" law like speeding? That's just an example, I don't want to start one of the dreaded speeding debates please. :rolleyes:

Without knowing the details I think it is hard to judge someone for their actions.

No... but I'd try to talk my family member into turning himself in.

Is it that clear to you? Would you turn a relative in for a "petty" law like speeding? That's just an example, I don't want to start one of the dreaded speeding debates please. :rolleyes:

I know that there are grey areas but to my mind the fundamental laws are the easiest to adhere to. Everybody breaks the law - The only way you'd be able not to break a law is to live in a darkened cellar and not move (although you'd probably get done for loitering) - but when willfull disregard is displayed then I consider it duty to assist in prosecution.

I'll not go running to the old bill if I see someone doing 34 in a 30 zone but if someone's taking liberties then I'm happy to help.

i grew up knowing that if i did anything wrong, my parents would tell the police. i never have did anything wrong and neither has my brother or sister. i passed those words onto my own children and im hoping they will tell their kids the same.

I don't know about anybody else but I am wondering how Lil sis has gone on after this morning. She is, after all, the one who resurrected this thread from Jan '05.

What did he/she do? :o

Using meth, terrorizing family.

Thanks for replying Lil sis. Not a nice thing to have to do but with the looks of things it had to be done.

Depends what they did.

If it was something UNFORGIVEABLE like buying Celine Dion's entire back catalogue on CD (LMAO! :lol: ) then yes, I'd shop 'em!

Thanks, Ally. It's been a really long day! I still don't know if he's gotten the paperwork yet.

If anyone in my familly committed a crime against your familly I would turn them in. If anyone in your familly committed a crime again my familly I'd expect you to turn them in. If you chose to go down the route of extra judicial then game on.

If anyone in my familly committed a crime against your familly I would turn them in. If anyone in your familly committed a crime again my familly I'd expect you to turn them in. If you chose to go down the route of extra judicial then game on.

Isn't that a rather ambivalent answer, given that the question asked was would you turn in a member of your own family family to the police?

Isn't that a rather ambivalent answer, given that the question asked was would you turn in a member of your own family family to the police?

"If anyone in my familly committed a crime against your familly I would turn them in."

Fairly explicit actually.

Mine do wrong, they get turned in. Your's do wrong, they get turned in. If you fail to turn yours in and they did wrong to mine, fine, but I'm coming after you and yours.

"If anyone in my familly committed a crime against your familly I would turn them in."

Fairly explicit actually.

Mine do wrong, they get turned in. Your's do wrong, they get turned in. If you fail to turn yours in and they did wrong to mine, fine, but I'm coming after you and yours.

Apologies, a misreading on my part. Still, I can't say I approve of vigilantism.

Apologies, a misreading on my part. Still, I can't say I approve of vigilantism.

Everyone has a chance to do the right thing.

If they fail to do it, the victims of those they are protecting may seek direct restorative justice.

Best bet is not to protect criminals.

Apologies, a misreading on my part. Still, I can't say I approve of vigilantism.

Indeed i totally agree with you Halibut, vigilantism is not the correct way to go about things.

I certainly would advise people to defend themselves against attacks by criminals by using the required amount of force, but to go out and attack someone to seek personal 'justice' is highly dangerous and unlawful.

I respect people like Lucy Cope whose son was murdered by a criminal and instead of seeking revenge she started a charity to help youngsters to stay away from crime, surely the impact of this choice is more beneficial to humanity.

T/C

I know that there are grey areas but to my mind the fundamental laws are the easiest to adhere to. Everybody breaks the law -
It is easy to adhere to the law and it's your decision to decide when you might or might not break one but the OP is asking the question about what you would do if someone else chose to break the law. Then you get onto the fundamentals of your morals and conscience v the seriousness of the crime.